Retroperitoneal cavernous hemangioma resected by a pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy

A retroperitoneal hemangioma is a rare disease. We report on the diagnosis and treatment of a retroperitoneal hemangioma which had uncommonly invaded into both the pancreas and duodenum, thus requiring a pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PpPD). A 36-year-old man presented to our hospital with abdominal pain. An enhanced computed tomography scan without contrast enhancement revealed a 12 cm × 9 cm mass between the pancreas head and right kidney. Given the high rate of malignancy associated with retroperitoneal tumors, surgical resection was performed. Intraoperatively, the tumor was inseparable from both the duodenum and pancreas and PpPD was performed due to the invasive behavior. Although malignancy was suspected, pathological diagnosis identified the tumor as a retroperitoneal cavernous hemangioma for which surgical resection was the proper diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. Reteoperitoneal cavernous hemangioma is unique in that it is typically separated from the surrounding organs. However, clinicians need to be aware of the possibility of a case, such as this, which has invaded into the surrounding organs despite its benign etiology. From this case, we recommend that combined resection of inseparable organs should be performed if the mass has invaded into other tissues due to the hazardous nature of local recurrence. In summary, this report is the first to describe a case of retroperitoneal hemangioma that had uniquely invaded into surrounding organs and was treated with PpPD.     

Distribution of and factors contributing to chronic kidney disease in a middle-aged working population

Objectives

To clarify the distribution of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the factors contributing to its development and progression in middle-aged Japanese workers/employees.

Methods

This was a retrospective study involving 3,964 men and 2,698 women aged 35–64 years in 2009 who had been followed-up until 2003. Data on proteinuria determined with a dipstick and glomerular filtration rate estimated from serum creatinine concentration (eGFR) were collected in the annual health check-ups.

Results

Proteinuria was detected in 2.9 and 1.1 % of the men and women, respectively, and total CKD was detected in 16.0 and 16.1 % of the men and women respectively. Moderate or severe CKD associated a high risk of cardiovascular diseases and end-stage kidney disease was found mostly in the male subjects [2.0 (men) vs. 0.6 % (women)]. High-risk CKD was found in 3.3 % of the men aged 55–64 years. A body mass index (BMI) of ≥30, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), current smoking and some job types were independently related to the development of proteinuria, while age, BMI, hypertriglyceridemia, and job types were related to total CKD. The development of high-risk CKD was related to preceding mild CKD signs of reduced eGFR and proteinuria as well as to hypertension, DM, smoking, and job type.

Conclusions

Chronic kidney disease was found in 16 % of middle-aged workers with an equal prevalence in both sexes, while high-risk CKD was found mostly in men, of whom 3.3 % were aged 55–64 years. Obesity, hypertension, DM, smoking and some job types were related to the development and progression of CKD.     

Respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics in patients with post coronary artery bypass grafting pain: impact on respiratory muscle function,activity, mood and exercise capacity

A new rehabilitation (New-RH) program including respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics (RMSG) was developed to alleviate post-coronary artery bypass grafting pain (PCP). Effects on respiratory muscle function, pain, activities of daily living (ADL), mood and exercise capacity were investigated. Subjects were 16 consecutive patients undergoing median full sternotomy coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and were randomly divided into equal New-RH (S-group) and conventional therapy (C-group) groups. Rib cage dominant breathing was observed postoperatively in both groups. With preoperative tan deltaVrc/deltaVab, increases at 1-week postoperatively and decreases at discharge for S-group tended to exceed those of C-group (p > .05). Decreased maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure status for functional residual capacity and percent forced expiratory volume in one second at discharge again only tended to be smaller for S-group (p > .05). S-group displayed significantly reduced pain around both scapulas at discharge (p = .049), and increased mean overall ADL and profile of mood states (POMS)/Vigor scores (p = .031 and p = .018, respectively). POMS/Tension-Anxiety scores at discharge for S-group were significantly smaller than those preoperatively (p = .025), and S-group displayed significantly increased distance walked over 6-minutes at discharge than C-group (p = .029). New-RH improves patient participation in exercise therapy and increases exercise capacity by reducing PCP, relieving anxiety and tension, and improving ADL.     

MCI-186 administered to the maternal circulation inhibits fetal brain injury resulting from total umbilical cord occlusion in the chronically instrumented fetal lamb

Objective.?To evaluate the transplacental effects of MCI-186 (edaravone), a potent hydroxyl radical scavenger, administered to the maternal circulation to inhibit fetal brain injury caused by umbilical cord occlusion.

Methods.?Nine chronically instrumented lambs were prepared. In three cases, 10-min persistent total umbilical cord occlusion (group A) was performed. Another three cases underwent occlusion and were administered 60 mg of MCI-186 through the maternal femoral vein prior to the end of occlusion (group B). The remaining three cases underwent sham operation (group C). On day 3 after insult, fetal brains were extirpated. Paraffin-embedded brain tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Bodian, Kluver–Barrera, and TUNEL. Neuronal cellular damage was evaluated by two pathologists blinded to the experimental conditions.

Results.?Group A displayed numerous cells with eosinophilic condensation of nuclear chromatin and proliferation of microglia in the hippocampus and basal ganglia. TUNEL-positive cells were observed in the periventricular area. Group B showed microglial proliferations, but no marked changes. No pathological changes were apparent in group C.

Conclusions.?MCI-186 administered to the maternal circulation could inhibit fetal brain injury resulting from hypoxia-reperfusion induced by umbilical cord occlusion.     

A case of salvage chemotherapy with gemcitabine hydrochloride and nedaplatin for gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer

A 73-year-old woman with carcinoma of the pancreatic head underwent Whipple?s operation and intraoperative radiation therapy(20 Gy). After surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine hydrochloride(GEM 1,000 mg every two weeks)was conducted. After 15 courses, the tumor marker CA19-9 gradually increased to 3,770 U/mL, and a supraclavicular lymph node metastasis(Virchow?s node)was detected. We selected the combination of GEM and nedaplatin(1,000 mg and 50 mg every two weeks, respectively)as salvage chemotherapy. After six courses of this nedaplatin/GEM combination, her CA19-9 level was markedly reduced to 657 U/mL and the lymph node metastasis disappeared. There were no adverse reactions. Combined nedaplatin/GEM therapy was continued for nine months(18 courses)until lung metastases occurred. This combination can be effective in some patients with GEM-refractory pancreatic cancer.     

The production of hydroxyl radicals in the fetal lamb brain resulting from occlusion of the umbilical circulation and the transplacental effect of MCI-186 to inhibit hydroxyl radical production

The present study evaluated hydroxyl radical production in fetal lamb brain during and after umbilical cord occlusion and examined the effects of injecting MCI-186 (3-metyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one; Edaravone), a hydroxyl radical scavenger, into the maternal circulation. In 11 chronically instrumented lambs, intermittent total umbilical cord occlusions 1 min out of every 3 min for 1 h and 10-min persistent total umbilical cord occlusion were performed with brain microdialysis using 5 mM of sodium salicylate. In the remaining four lambs, 60 mg of MCI-186 was administered into the maternal circulation from shortly before the end of 10-min persistent total umbilical cord occlusion. Concentrations of 2,3-dihydroxy-benzoic acid (2,3-DHBA), produced by hydroxyl radical reactions with sodium salicylate, were measured in perfusate by HPLC. Concentration of 2,3-DHBA in perfusate was 23.05 +/- 10.95 nM before umbilical cord occlusion. Levels of 2,3-DHBA tended to increase slightly during and after intermittent umbilical cord occlusion, and were significantly increased by the end of 10-min occlusion (40.06 +/- 21.36 nM) and after occlusion (93.74 +/- 29.17 nM). Infusion of MCI-186 suppressed 2,3-DHBA concentration to 29.35 +/- 14.95 nM after occlusion. Administration of MCI-186 into the maternal circulation reduces hydroxyl radical production induced by umbilical cord occlusion in the fetal lamb brain.     

Importance of abdominal X-ray to confirm the position of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system: A case report

BACKGROUNDLevonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems (LNG-IUSs) gradually release levonorgestrel into the uterus and is effective against hypermenorrhoea and dysmenorrhea. Complications associated with the insertion include expulsion, displacement, and uterine perforation. Ultrasonic identification of copper intrauterine devices (IUDs) is possible due to echogenicity from the copper coils. However, the barium sulfate coatings of LNG-IUSs do not always provide hyperechoic images. Both barium sulfate and copper are radiopaque and clearly identifiable on X-ray. Thus, X-ray imaging is required to locate LNG-IUSs.CASE SUMMARYA 46-year-old woman with hypermenorrhoea due to submucosal myomas was treated with LNG-IUS at another hospital. Three LNG-IUS insertions had apparently been followed by spontaneous expulsion, although objective confirmation using imaging was not performed. The patient was referred to our institution for surgery. At the first visit, there appeared to be no device in the uterus, and none was observed on transvaginal ultrasound. However, two LNG-IUSs were observed in the pelvis on abdominal plain X-rays prior to surgery. Hysteroscopic myomectomy was performed, and the two LNG-IUSs were found to have perforated the myometrium. The devices were safely removed during surgery, and the submucosal myomas were also removed. The perforated section of the myometrium was minimal+ADs- therefore, a repair operation was not required.CONCLUSIONPlain abdominal X-rays facilitate the determination of whether an LNG-IUS is in the uterine cavity. Therefore, it is important to confirm a device’s location, regardless of whether spontaneous expulsion is suspected, prior to inserting another device.     

A combination therapy of vitamin K1 and bile acid on hemorrhagic diathesis in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis

This paper presents a study of treatment involving vitamin K₁ (VK₁) accompanied by bile acids for hemorrhagic diathesis that was applied 42 times in 35 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. The hepaplastin test (HPT) value showed no change during the administration of VK₁ alone. The HPT value elevated significantly, however, after the administration of VK₁ with bile acid, expecially when using ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). The HPT value in patients treated with VK₁ in addition to UDCA before treatment with 53.2% ± 10.2% (mean ± SD) and after that for 2.1 ± 1.1 months (mean ± SD) with 74.7 ± 16.8% showed a significant difference (p< 0.001). On the other hand, no significant difference was noted between the HPT value of 57.2 ± 13.6% before and that of 62.9 ± 13.9% after the treatment in patients treated using VK₁ in conjunction with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). These results indicate that the therapy incorporating VK₁ and bile acid, especially UDCA, is useful for reducing the hemorrhagic tendency in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis who show no improvement using VK₁ alone.     

Abdominal tuberculoma mimicking a pancreatic neoplasm: Report of a case

We report herein a case of clinically solitary abdominal tuberculoma. A 28-year-old woman was admitted to hospital for treatment of an abdominal tumor shown to be located in the head of the pancreas and compressing the superior mesenteric vein by echosonography and computed tomography (CT). There were no clinical signs or symptoms of tuberculosis in the lungs or abdomen. Thus, under the diagnosis of a neoplasm of the pancreas, an exploratory laparotomy was performed which revealed tuberculosis. The patient made an excellent recovery on anti-tuberculous treatment, and no evidence of a tumor was seen on a CT scan performed 6 months after the initiation of treatment. Abdominal tuberculoma is often mistaken for a malignant neoplasm and the nonsurgical diagnosis of this entity continues to be a challange.     

ASO Visual Abstract: Prognostic Impact of Surgical Intervention After Lenvatinib Treatment for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Annals of Surgical Oncology -